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Europe's largest low cost airline, Ryanair, will enter the Bosnian market this year by introducing flights to Banja Luka. It comes following protracted talks with the government of the Entity of Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The carrier will introduce two weekly services from Charleroi Airport in Belgium, each Monday and Friday, starting October 29, as well as from Memmingen in Germany from October 30, each Tuesday and Saturday. The Prime Minister of the entity, Željka Cvijanović, has said that "several additional destinations will also be launched" by the airline in the coming period. Tickets for the new routes are already available for purchase through the carrier's website.
Commenting on the new route, Ryanair’s Sales and Marketing Executive for Belgium, Helene Begasse, said, “We are pleased to announce a new Brussels Charleroi to Banja Luka route commencing this November. This new route marks Ryanair's entry into Bosnia and Herzegovina, and wi…

The world's largest carrier, American Airlines, is considering introducing seasonal flights to Dubrovnik. According to the "TangoSix" portal, the company is in talks with the airport over a seasonal service from Philadelphia. A decision on the matter is expected within the next month. American operates a number of seasonal flights to Europe from its Philadelphia hub including Athens, Barcelona, Budapest, Frankfurt, Glasgow, Lisbon, Prague, Shannon and Venice. This year, the airline expanded its reach from Philadelphia into Europe with seasonal flights to Budapest and Prague. Both are operated by its Boeing 767-300 aircraft. The move is seen as affirming American’s commitment to Philadelphia as a trans-Atlantic gateway.
Dubrovnik Airport has identified the United States and South Korea as two far-away markets which could sustain services to the coastal city. Speaking to EX-YU Aviation News, Dubrovnik Airport's General Manager, Frano Luetić, said, "These two far-…

Belgrade Airport with transfer hub ambitions

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Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport says it is working towards becoming a transfer hub in south-eastern Europe by attracting long haul flights and improving its services. Belgrade Airport's Investment and Development Director, Ana Kaludjerović, said, "A number of measures and action plans have been initiated to solidify the airport's position as a dominant transfer hub in south-eastern Europe. The launch of nonstop intercontinental flights to the United States last year, and to China this year, is a strategic step towards achieving this goal and an excellent opportunity for the airport to send a clear message to the market that it intends on becoming the most important transit point in this part of Europe".

The number of transfer passengers using Belgrade Airport has grown over 40% during the last three years, primarily as a result of Air Serbia, which has put an emphasis on shuttling passengers via the Serbian capital. "Belgrade Airport is a recognisable European hub on the crossroads between east and west, boasting developed and flexible infrastructure with further room for improvement. We intend on turning this into our capital advantage over our competitors", Ms Kaludjerović noted. Last month, the Serbian Ministry for Construction, Transport and Infrastructure said it was aiming to attract more medium and long haul flights to the country in an effort to boost tourism and connectivity. It has identified several markets which hold potential to generate inbound, outbound and transfer travel from and to Serbia, including Canada, Japan, India, South Korea and Morocco, as well as further opportunities in the United States and China. Ms Kaludjerović said the airport is coordinating its business strategy with the Serbian government.

In 2015, the number of passengers transferring through Belgrade Airport increased by half a million, with this upward trend continuing into 2016. General Manager Saša Vljaisavljević previously noted, "Air Serbia has made a significant impact on our business. One of the most important events was the resumption of transatlantic flights to the United States. This gave the airport an excellent opportunity to position itself in this part of Europe as the most important transfer point". Air Serbia's CEO, Dane Kondić, previously said, "Compared with many other European airports, Belgrade Airport is an amazingly easy and convenient place to transfer. From the furthermost gate at one end to the other is a ten-minute walk. We’re not there yet, but we’re certainly making progress in being a good alternative to an airport such as, say, Vienna, which has always positioned itself as a transfer airport for people flying into Central and Eastern Europe". For airport operators, connecting traffic offers the only real opportunity to grow beyond the traffic potential of their own local catchment area. Belgrade Airport has invested in its transfer zone over the past year, opening new shops, so called "quiet zones", playrooms for children and recently began work on upgrading some of its restrooms to include shower facilities. The airport has also unveiled plans to make changes to its central duty free shop in the transfer area, as well as nearby shops and cafes to improve traffic flow.

I think it would have been possible to develop some kind of transfer airport a couple of years ago. But with Air Serbia cost cutting, which is having an impact on its network too, this is highly unlikely.

Agree completely with anon 9.04. Growing transfer traffic at BEG will rely heavily on Air Serbia. Looking at Air Serbia lately, to me it seems they are focusing more and more on P2P which are more lucrative for them.

Lets go back to the old days mentality. Europe's cities are getting connected with non-stop flights within the continent and now even more with the US. Also, you already have so many airports nearby already being hubs such as VIE, ATH, MUC, FRA, WAW, etc, etc.Even neighbouring BUD is no longer a hub. I don't understand this obsession, really.

I don't think it's an obsession. It's a genuine goal that most airports in the world strive to achieve. Like it says in the article "For airport operators, connecting traffic offers the only real opportunity to grow beyond the traffic potential of their own local catchment area. "

My recent experience was much better on their long haul flights. 767 is in 2-3-2 configuration with power plugs between seats in Economy and 2-2-2 in Premium. Seats in Economy are wide and legroom is reasonable unlike their A319 (they don't have A320, only 319 and 321). I had 767 on a 4-5 hour medium haul routes like YYZ-LAS but service does not include baggage and meals as with intercontinental routes.

Transatlantic service had one full meal and one warm snack served with non-alcoholic drinks, beer/wine is extra charge. One 23kg bag was included in the price. No seatback IFE but there is a free streaming media app similar to Air Serbia offering. Compared to mainline Air Canada, not as many premium movies and your mileage accruement is at lower rate. I also paid for an upgrade and it was even better experience with more legroom, if you are willing to pay for it. Overall satisfaction with Air Canada Rouge (on a scale of 1-10): A319 - 2; medium haul 767 - 6; long haul 767 - 7 (8 for upgraded seat).

interesting. Based on my A319 experience I would've never chosen them but it seems more or less like their mainline offering, which on its own is nothing to brag about but... Being 6'5", leg room is all I care about.

It is obvious that the number of transfer passengers is significantly up when you pass through passport control since you can see people sleeping on the chairs and the JU transfer desk always full of people.

I just noticed that LH is changing the time of its BEG-FRA morning departure from 06:15 to 07:15 in the winter timetable, does anyone know if it's always like that? Does it have an impact on the number of potential connections in FRA?

Airlines have ups and downs. Air Serbia literally turned it all around in 2 years. They are stagnating now, in fact, the problem is everyone was expecting them to have 50 planes in 10 years, which was never logical. They are still the strongest airline in Ex-Yu and the way the rise from ashes from the disaster called JAT is impressive.

Maybe the new manager of the airport should consider bringing in a LCC and offering them BEG as a hub if Air Serbia can't increase their numbers. Competition is healthy for everyone but, some special interests may not like that.

Good idea, someone should tell LCCs like Transavia, Vueling, Eurowings, Easyjet and Wizzair to consider flying to Belgrade. LCC using BEG as a transfer hub is even better idea. Imagine being able to fly FKB-FMM on a single ticket via BEG. Thank you for innovative ideas!

While tranfer passengers help an airport they do little in comparison to destination pax for economic impact on the local economy.I would rather have 100 pax coming into the airport as a destination and spening on food, lodging, transport etc... such as in Split rather then 100 pax chaging airplanes for an hour and just using the toilets. While you still make money off them it is paltry in comparison to destination pax. That is where BEG is lacking when compared to the others in the region.

A transfer hub between east and west? Agree Sales pitch not much more. BEG must have forgotten about IST momentarily. A plethora of flights and routes, multiple times a day with modern terminal facilities.

They have to talk like that, they will get more $$$ and it is understandable, it would be worrying if the would be quite or talked how they have no expectations to be a transfer hub. Go Belgrade Airport, keep slaying.

Why do people always have to look at some other examples and limit their own development? "If Athens doesn't Belgrade shouldn't either"... Until 4 months ago Athens didn't have year round flights to the US while Belgrade did.

Air China is suspending PEK-ATH on 27th September, like I said. As I said, they did not have year round flights to the US until EK started flying 4 months ago. Also nowhere did I say what is better or not. I was simply saying that you don't have to limit your own expansion and ambitions just because some other city in the region has not done it.

hahahaha. this place is very sometimes. Its AMAZING how many people do not like Air Serbia and Belgrade airport.. i dont understand the hate. all of you know that Belgrade was and it always will be the major hub in the region. and it will grow in the future and people like you will still find stupid comments to crap over that fact.

Sorry my friends , I'm from Greece and this makes me so mad ! So what if Belgrade has year round flights to New York with air serbia ? I have relatives there and travel twice a year , also we are about 3 millions in the states.My point is that we travel also in the winter and this is absurd air serbia does not care at all for us greek people who do not hate air serbia and we just wanna travel to our people there.And the bottom line is that air serbia does not care having some descent time connections to service the greek market which is huge in the USA.This is my complain and thanks for giving this space in your blog .

BEG has been developing nicely this year. Passenger growth has been quite healthy this year, several new airlines like Atlasglobal, Transavia and Hainan have launched flights. Wizz has expanded its base operations. Second long haul route, strong bidders for the concession, terminal 1 refurbishment complete... Overall a good year.

It's all good news, the more the airports in the region develop the more developed it will be. Just compare it 10 years ago. BEG barely had 2 million, same as SOF. INI, SKP, TZL have also had remarkable results too.

EY is going to be in survival mode going forward and just trying to save itself. They wont be worried about investing in others. With the forcast drop in the price of oil to about $25 in the next 10 years there will be little to no help from the governments in the middle east.

+1Good analysis. EY despite the (maybe temporary) situation of Qatar Airways can not sustain itself in this market. serious downsizing is needed and I am afraid that it has lost interest in the development of it's foreign airlines.

Not sure if Wizz is thinking of connecting passengers, but they are the only ones who could actually do it themselves at BEG. With flights to Larnaca and Malta, they coould potentially offer some connectivity. I doubt they would get permission to fly to countries outside EU from BEG.

Perhaps Athens and Rome could work for Wizz with added transfer pax. I'm sure there is plenty of direct flights from Athens to Germany, but then again there are many Greeks in Germany as well. SKG perhaps could as well.

LCC connecting flights in bases with less than 10 aircraft are wet dreams. What good will the connecting flight do, if some destinations are 2 pw or 3pw.

Also, Wizz Air only flies from East to West (more or less). Are people from UK going to fly from LTN to connect in OTP to go to MAD/BCN, for lower price than direct flights? Granted, there are some flights (LCA, TLV, etc.) that could be connected, but a huge majority couldn't be.

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